NHTSA — Power Train Problems

2012 Fiat 500 (Page 3 of 10)

CarComplaints.com Seal Of This Might Hurt

CarComplaints.com Notes: Considering sales numbers and data that monitors complaints-per-make, there appears to be an unusually high number of issues with the 2012 Fiat 500. Perhaps that isn't surprising -- it is the first model year of the car, and those tend to have a higher incidence rate.

Of particular concern is the number of engine and powertrain complaints submitted to NHTSA.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
38,139 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Fiat 500 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Fiat 500 Owner Comments (Page 3 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #149

Mar 022019

500

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Gear shift is stuck in park but car is actually in neutral. It will not move. Was pulling in parking spot and realized when I put car in park and release foot off brake my car was actually in neutral. Cannot change gear.

- Chapin, SC, USA

problem #148

Jan 242019

500

  • 95,356 miles
I drive a manual Fiat, and I smelled a burning smell and my clutch wasn't engaging properly, I was losing torque, and theres a loud squeaking when I press on the clutch.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #147

Dec 192018

500 4-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. While driving, the clutch failed to engage while releasing the pedal. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

- Cleveland Heights, OH, USA

problem #146

Oct 302018

500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V302000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Tony domiano auto (located at 900 scranton carbondale hwy, eynon, pa 18403, (570) 876-3919) was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was also made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Scranton, PA, USA

problem #145

Jul 202018

500

  • 71,437 miles
The Fiat had the recommended recall fix for maual transmission performed in 2017. While driving on a city street, the clutch would not disengage properly. Gears could only be changed with the car completely stopped and the engine off. Repair identified the problem "pressure plate fingers have failed because of S34 recall. This ruined the clutch plate causing shifitng issues."

- Arvada, CO, USA

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problem #144

Jul 112018

500

  • 80,000 miles
Car started sounding bad and one night the clutch got stuck so I took it to the mechanic who informed me there is a safety recall on the clutch. Dealership is an hour away and wouldn't cover towing "unless they were sure it was a recall issue" so either I could pay for towing (I don't have money for that) or drive it in. No mention that driving it could cause additional damage not covered. So I drove it in with the bad clutch. Took it to the dealership then and they agreed to cover the replacement of the clutch. When they started repairs, they noticed damage to the fork shaft and transmission, which would not be covered under the recall. $2400. I googled the recall to find out details and the recall exists because they know the clutch problem causes damage to the transmission. So I really don't understand why they won't cover it once the damage has been done.

- Rockwood, TN, USA

problem #143

May 272018

500

  • 52,020 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. After the vehicle was started, the clutch pedal jammed and would not retract into the original position. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was towed to red's auto & truck (1451 vista view dr., longmont, co) where it was diagnosed that the clutch assembly would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that there were no recalls attributed to the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 52,020.

- Fort Collins, CO, USA

problem #142

Apr 062015

500

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that the clutch assembly prematurely failed twice and was replaced. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer stated that this was a normal routine repair and advised the contact to replace the part. The failure mileage was not available.

- Glendora, CA, USA

problem #141

Dec 122017

500

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. After the vehicle was parked in the garage, it failed to restart. The gear shifter was placed in park, but the indicator on the instrument panel indicated that the vehicle was still in drive. The contact read the owner's manual, which instructed to release the gear shifter to take it out of park. The gear shifter was placed in park, but the indicator displayed that the vehicle was in drive. After the contact exited the vehicle, he noticed that it moved a little. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to call NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

- Noblesville, IN, USA

problem #140

Jul 282017

500

  • 26,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. While driving various speeds or while parked, the check transmission, check engine, and ESC warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that the first time the failure occurred, the vehicle felt sluggish while driving and an unknown odor was detected in the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. There were no warning indicators illuminated and no failure codes. The contact stated that the warning indicators illuminated later. The vehicle was taken to ron lewis Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat cranberry (21145 us-19, cranberry twp, pa 16066 (724) 452-4040), but the failure still could not be determined or duplicated. The third time the failure occurred, the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where a diagnosis still could not be made; however, four spark plugs and the number one coil were changed because the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact mentioned that the failure still occurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failures and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #139

Oct 152017

500

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. While driving 38 mph, the shifter became stuck and the clutch pedal fractured. The contact stated that the clutch pedal became stuck in third gear and that a burning odor entered the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to larry H miller alfa romeo and Fiat tucson of tucson, Arizona (1000 w wetmore road) where the clutch pedal assembly was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 90,000.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #138

Sep 222017

500 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 31,433 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500 being hauled by a 2006 Dodge sprinter 2500. While the Fiat was being towed, the gear independently shifted from neutral into drive. The failure caused substantial engine damage. The vehicle was included in, but the contact was not notified of NHTSA campaign number: 16V302000 (power train). The dealer (schmelz countryside Fiat, 1178 mn-36, maplewood, mn 55109, (651) 484-8441) was notified of the failure and was inspecting the vehicle to determine the cause of the failure, affecting the engine associated with the power train failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was currently at the dealer to be serviced. The approximate failure mileage was 31,433. Parts distribution disconnect. Consumer stated the faulty did not allow the transmission to disengage. Updated 7/20/18

- Sarona, WI, USA

problem #137

Sep 172017

500

  • 48,870 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500 abarth. On several occasions, while the brake pedal was depressed, the gear shifter was placed in reverse and the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate in reverse. On multiple occasions, the gear shifter failed to operate. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the shifter cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called alfa romeo Fiat of wichita (7525 E kellogg dr, wichita, ks 67207 (316) 618-2191) where the dealer confirmed that there was no current warranty. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,870.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #136

Sep 172017

500 4-cyl

  • miles
I called Fiat 800-992-1997 I asked about the recall on my vehicle for the 100th time they told me that I would need to take my VIN # [xxx] in for a diagnostic before I could get the recall fixed for my clutch I told Fiat I don't have the money to pay for a diagnostic and I would have to save up so it will take another year for me to have the recall complete so I will just keep my car here at home an choose not to drive it I will rent cars instead also the car can not be bought transferred or sold with out the completed recall! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Saratoga Springs, UT, USA

problem #135

Sep 082017

500

  • 70,644 miles
As I was pulling into the driveway on 09-08-2017, I pushed in the clutch to get ready to stop. I felt the car continue pushing forward despite having the clutch pedal in and applying the brakes. The transmission would not come out of gear. The car died as I applied more force to the brakes, resulting in the car stopping several feet further than my intended parking spot. This is a sudden unexpected failure of the clutch. I believe this failure is related to NHTSA campaign 16V302000 recall. "the clutch diaphragm spring may fracture and fail, causing inability to switch gears." Recall S34 which entails installing a clutch pedal limiter and clutch pedal switch was performed on this vehicle on Jan-26-2017 at the corwin Fiat dealership in springfield mo at 61202 miles. Yesterday 09-08-2017 with 70644 miles the clutch failed suddenly without warning. I have not taken it to a garage yet for diagnosis.

- Strafford, MO, USA

problem #134

Jun 222017

500

  • 67,000 miles
Stuck in park - must push release button each time to be able to drive

- Kensington, MD, USA

problem #133

Jul 072017

500

  • 56,000 miles
My Fiat 500 manual tranmission would not go into gear when I was on the highway there is a problem with clutch diaphragm spring causeingthe car not to shift the recall wasto replace the clutch pedal over travel I told the Fiat dealer they should check the clutch first to see if there was any damage now my clutch went the car gives you no sign when its going to fail very dangerous car was in motion when in happend

- Morristown, NJ, USA

problem #132

May 172016

500

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V302000 (power train). The part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer (sunset Fiat of sarasota 7641 tamiami trail, sarasota fl 34231) confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The VIN was invalid. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Harbour Heights, FL, USA

problem #131

May 162017

500

  • 36,298 miles
My 2012 Fiat 500 with 36,298 miles on od had clutch failure. I received S34 recall from Fiat and had recall work complete. I was told that the recalled part could cause wear on clutch plate and that the recall was correcting the issue. Three weeks later, I was at a stop light and the clutch felt funny and transmission was stuck in first gear. Car was towed to dealer and diagnostic states that bearing-clutch release and disc & pressure plate need replacement. I was told that the recall had no bearing on the clutch failure..."it's normal wear and tear like brake pads and tires." I have spoken with my service rep and Fiat customer service. I have repeatedly been told the failure is a "wear and tear issue". I have repeatedly stated that I understand this, but the recalled part was said by both the service provider and Fiat, to cause wear on component (wear and tear) parts of the clutch. I maintain that the faulty part has accelerated wear and tear on the clutch assembly and that the replacement of the clutch should be covered by Fiat. Fiat customer service states they are investigating my claim but I have not heard back from them. At this time, I am having to pay for the $1200 repair which seems to have been caused by accelerated wear and tear due to a defective, recalled part. Please advise.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #130

Dec 272016

500

  • 60,100 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. While driving 25 mph, the clutch pedal failed without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the clutch cover diaphragm was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the dealer refused to repair the vehicle due to fatigue. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V302000 (power train). The manufacturer was notified of the issue and stated that she would be contacted when the part became available. The failure mileage was 60,100.

- Venice, CA, USA

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